The only thing that hasn't changed is that people are more retarded now than ever. Atomic Attack helps to shed a critical light on this affliction of humanity and is therefor a must-see.

First, this show aired on Tuesday, May 18, 1954, though several stations on the ABC network delayed the broadcast for several weeks (eg., KOOL-TV in Phoenix broadcast the show on June 1). The network thought highly enough of the episode to take out box ads in a number of newspapers.
John Crosby of the Herald Tribune syndicate wasn't altogether enthusiastic about this depiction of the effect on one home after a nuke attack in NYC. He thought some of the kids' lines were too casual about the subject. But Fred Remington of the Pittsburgh Press opined the following day "Television rarely has performed with greater brilliance." He praised the film for not having stock footage of buildings crumbling, which is just what Harry MacArthur of the Washington Evening Star (May 20) felt it needed. Variety (May 26) called it a "rather trite tv melodrama."
Broadcasting magazine reported the show cost $33,000 to produce (May 24 issue).
All the reviews I've read in the papers praise Phyllis Thaxter's performance. She reassures her daughter (Patty McCormack, spouting contrived lines) that the U.S.A. will win. "I promise you that." The music swells. Rah! Rah! Rah! America!
Writer David Davidson told the Brooklyn Eagle (May 18) that the book which inspired the story was four years old and outdated, so it required modifications. The War-of-the-Worlds disclaimer at the start was the result of affiliates concerned that people would think the show was real (Baltimore Sun, May 18).
Why the producers didn't go with a title card only at the start, I don't know. The opening segues into showgirls on a stairwell, which gets cut to black quickly. It was hardly an appropriate scene for this kind of story.
Unless I missed it, ABC News vice-president John Daly is uncredited as the news voice on the Conelrad station.
The network announcer at the end stumbles slightly during the credits.

18 May, 1953 episode of Motorola Theater,
Atomic Attack

Cast and crew:
Phyllis Thaxter Gladys Mitchell
Robert Keith Dr. Garson Lee
Walter Matthau Dr. Spinelli
Patricia Bruder Barbara Mitchell (as Patsy Bruder)
Patty McCormack Ginny Mitchell
Audrey Christie Mrs. Moore
William Kemp Jim Turner (as Bill Kemp)
Elizabeth Ross Mrs. Harvey
Daniel Reed Mr. Flood
Virginia Gerry Nancy
Directed by Ralph Nelson
Writing Credits (in alphabetical order)
David Davidson ... (teleplay)
Judith Merril ... (novel "Shadow on the Hearth")
Produced by Herbert Brodkin
Music by Ralph Norman
Other crew
Philip Barry Jr. ... assistant to producer
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0297748/?ref_=ttep_ep15

One of the more underrated leading ladies of her day, Thaxter's the whole show here as anguished suburban mom & wife dealing with the after effects of a nuking of NYC, 50 miles away. Able support by a young McCormack (later Oscar nominee as The Bad Seed) and old pro Robert Keith. Christie, hamming it up as the hysterical 'guest', went on to play snotty Mrs. Upson in Mame (1974).

IMDB indicates that this film is from 1954.
The Motorola TV Hour on ABC did not run in 1950 -- it ran in 1953-54.
This is episode 15 in season 2, airing on 18 May 1953.
(http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0045415/episodes)

This show was sponsored by Motorola for ABC in 1950 when less than 20% of American households had TVs. As an early TV show it was more of a play than a movie, all taking place in one suburban home in the days following an H-Bomb attack. The 1st actual H-Bomb wasn't tested until 1952, and Russian didn't test one until 1953, so this qualifies the show as SciFi. The play was based on the SciFi novel Shadow on the Hearth by Judith Merril published in 1950. While simplistic in its treatment, it does provide a glimpse into public thinking about nuclear war and television production values of the time. Look for Walter Matthau who may be making his acting debut as the doctor.

If you're looking for TV episodes dealing
with Atomic War, check out...

Medic / Flash of Darkness

Civil Defense Reserve doctors find out
that this time, it's not a test.

Daddy has left Westchester for his job in the city, but there's one small problem -- NYC was just nuked! But it's OK, we have an AM radio tuned to Conelrad. The power is still on? No, it just went out, and we have another AM radio with batteries. Wait, who's that ringing the working doorbell? It's the Civil Defense Block Captain, here to provide spiritual comfort and dispense critical information on Fallout, such as don't let Muffy take her teddy bear outside in the rain right after an H-bomb attack.